How melting glaciers are causing borders to shift in Italy and Switzerland

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

MELTING GLACIERS ARE FORCING MAPS TO BE REDRAWN ALONG THE SWISS-ITALIAN BORDER AMID RECORD-LOW SNOWFALL AND WARMING TEMPERATURES.

PART OF THE AREA IMPACTED IS BENEATH THE MATTERHORN, ONE OF EUROPE’S TALLEST MOUNTAINS, AND IN THE REGION OF PLATEAU ROSA.

ALL OF THE REGIONS INVOLVED ARE CLOSE TO POPULAR SKI RESORTS. 

THE CHANGES COME AS GLACIER RIDGELINES OR AREAS OF CONTINUOUS SNOW ALONG THE BORDER HAVE CAUSED NATURAL BOUNDARIES TO SHIFT.

SWITZERLAND APPROVED THE TWEAKS TO THE BORDER FRIDAY BUT ITALY IS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF “SIGNING” THE AGREEMENT. 

SWITZERLAND SAID THE REDRAWN BORDERS ARE IN THE ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF BOTH NATIONS. IT’S ALSO BELIEVED THE NEW BOUNDARIES WILL HELP SORT OUT WHO’S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF CERTAIN NATURAL AREAS.

DATA SHOWS SWITZERLAND’S GLACIERS LOST FOUR PERCENT OF THEIR VOLUME LAST YEAR FOLLOWING 2022’S BIGGEST LOSS EVER OF SIX PERCENT AFTER RECORD-LOW SNOWFALL.

RESEARCHERS WARN IF THESE TRENDS CONTINUE THE RECESSION OF GLACIER RIDGELINES WILL ACCELERATE.

THE DIMINISHING SNOW AND ACCELERATED MELTING IS UNCOVERING SOME MYSTERIES.

THE REMAINS OF A HIKER MISSING SINCE 1986 WERE FOUND EARLIER THIS YEAR NEAR MATTERHORN AND IN 2022, THE WRECKAGE OF PLANE CRASH IN 1968 CLOSE TO THE ALETSCH GLACIER WAS REVEALED.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.